1776 (ca. 1789) Washington Before Boston Medal. First Paris Mint Issue. First Issued Original Obverse / First Issued Original Reverse. Musante GW-09-P1, Baker-47B. Bronze. Plain Edge. MS-62 (PCGS).68.8 mm. 2262.4 grains. Glossy deep olive-brown surfaces are uniform save for nuances of mottled blue in the fields and somewhat darker patina close to the rims. A handsome specimen with a few trivial marks scattered about and traces of natural debris in the interstices of the letters that speak to originality. Traces of prooflike reflectivity remain in the fields. A single small mark at the central reverse is a tiny natural void and as made. A beautiful specimen of this famous medal from one of the great collections of Washingtoniana, that of Lucien LaRiviere, a Rhode Island dressmaker and gentleman of the first order who had an exceptional eye for quality. His Washington medals were sold in our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of November 1999, which was the last time this medal was publicly offered. It was also the first sale of Washington medals written by your present cataloger, so the opportunity to handle this medal once again is particularly enjoyable.<p>The die state seen here includes the usual prominent spalling marks that formed early on, most of which are seen even on the rare cliches, so these trivial failures likely began in the hardening of the die, before the medals for delivery were struck. These are near the lower hair curls, at the letters M in SUPREMO, ER in ADSERTORI, and in other areas to a lesser degree. That in the right obverse field is not that prominent, but there is a patch of soft spalling behind Washingtons head. Even the gold original presented to Washington, likely among of the very first few struck, exhibits most of these features. The reverse of this medal also shows a slight buckling at the upper center, in the field, from gentle sinking of the die.<p>The Washington Before Boston medal is arguably the most historic of all Washington medals, for it celebrates not only Washington, but a critical military victory for the Continental Army, one which would be significant in the lead-up to the eventual establishment of the United States as an independent nation. It was the first award medal authorized by the American Congress and enjoys broad appeal among collectors focused on various aspects of American history, well beyond George Washington.From the John D. Miner Collection. Earlier from James King, March 1970; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Lucien LaRiviere Collection, November 1999, lot 3027.
